New Land and Sea Rangers for Far North Queensland

Media Release:The Hon Leeanne Enoch, Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts

The Palaszczuk Government has announced 12 new ranger positions for Far North Queensland as part of the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program.

Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch announced four organisations would benefit from the Palaszczuk Government’s $8.1 million funding boost for more than 20 Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers.

“Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers contribute greatly to the protection of Queensland’s environment and Indigenous cultural heritage,” Ms Enoch said.

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the Olkola Aboriginal Corporation and Yingtjingga Aboriginal Corporation in Cape York would receive an extra four and two rangers respectively.

“The new Olkola rangers will take part in biodiversity and resource management, conduct weed and feral animal control, work with knowledge holders and elders to identify cultural sites and record findings in a database, and record numbers and develop a strategy to protect the golden shouldered parrot,” she said.

“The Yintjingga rangers will be based in Lama Lama Sea Country and participate in patrols, research and monitoring activities including sea turtles, dolphins and mangroves, and culture heritage programs.”

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the Buda-dji Aboriginal Development Association Aboriginal Corporation at Barron Gorge and the Dawal Wuru Aboriginal Corporation at Barron River would each welcome three new rangers.

“Buda-dji rangers will undertake flora and fauna surveys and a cultural mapping project on the former mission station of Mona Mona north of Kuranda as well as work more closely with the Djabugay people to include more cultural interpretation in Barron Gorge National Park,” he said.

“Dawal Wuru rangers will be based in Cairns and operate on coastal lands and waters in the wet tropics up to Port Douglas, conserving the cultural and natural values of Yirraganydji country.”

Ms Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government announced funding for extra Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger positions in the 2017-18 State Budget and organisations were invited to apply for funding to secure these positions. Successful applicants were selected by an assessment panel.

“This program allows the Government to partner with Indigenous communities to care for country and provides job and training opportunities,” Ms Enoch said.

“Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers are often traditional owners who are able to draw on their valuable traditional knowledge in their conservation work.

“It is an amazing program and I am pleased our Government is able to fund 22 extra positions to extend the work in conserving environmental and cultural heritage in Queensland.